1. Experiential Training Module Offline Partner Activity

2.  2009. FacilitatorU.com. All rights reserved.2 Benefits of Partner Activities Allow full, simultaneous participation.Allow full, simultaneous participation. Collect deeper ideas, options, solutions, experiences, from a virtual group.Collect deeper ideas, options, solutions, experiences, from a virtual group. Build personal connection in virtual environment usually only possible F2F.Build personal connection in virtual environment usually only possible F2F.

3.  2009. FacilitatorU.com. All rights reserved.3 Activity Preparation Notify participants prior to T/VM that offline exercises will be conducted Confirm in pre-class emails phone numbers that will be used. Prepare and distribute updated class roster with phone numbers prior to each call. Send exercise sheets out before exercise if possible. Remind students to have roster, guide sheets, workbook, timer, ready before class. Send multiple reminders

4.  2009. FacilitatorU.com. All rights reserved.4 Initiating Activity Before pairing people, explain and model exercise clearly. Easiest to just run down daily roster. Pair on locale, gender, backgrounds, etc. Pair with different partners for subsequent exercises to increase connection. Tell people to stay on the call until they are released so they hear all instructions. Keep one group on existing bridge for recording and coaching. Reminder to have timers ready, announce return time, check clocks, release.

5.  2009. FacilitatorU.com. All rights reserved.5 Large Group Debrief Start debrief when time’s up and at least half the people return. Some will return late; assume they are getting what they need. Debrief according to activity objectives and learning goals. Provide adequate time for reflection or revisit during next class.

6.  2009. FacilitatorU.com. All rights reserved.6 Activity Type Any activity that can be done aurally. Must be easily understood and followed in under ten minutes. Success is less about activity type than about clarity of instruction and relevance.

7.  2009. FacilitatorU.com. All rights reserved.7 Exercise Outcomes To learn how a partner activity is conducted. To show how productive work and learning can be done virtually in small groups To learn something new about yourself in the process

8.  2009. FacilitatorU.com. All rights reserved.8 Let’s Do An Activity! Title: Weathering the Storm Objective: Develop ideas for weathering the economic storm. Activity: Brainstorm the various strategies you could be using to minimize the impact of the current economic crisis. Take notes for each other. Brainstorm ideas for 7 minutes. Help each other share the air time. Then take 3 minutes to refine & decide on two favorite ideas. Questions? See you in 10 minutes!

9.  2009. FacilitatorU.com. All rights reserved.9 Debrief Can we have a notetaker? Let’s hear the best ideas from each group. Anything noteworthy around your experience of this activity? What did you learn about yourself? How might you use this format in your virtual work or training arena?

10.  2009. FacilitatorU.com. All rights reserved.10 Close Questions about the process. New technology on the horizon: MaestroConference.com MaestroConference.com Invitation to next module on use of the Experiential Learning Cycle (Kolb)